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In a League Cup semi-final full of controversy, Branislav Ivanovic's header sent Chelsea to Wembley with a 2-1 aggregate win over Liverpool.

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Written ByPeter Hanson

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Branislav Ivanovic's thumping extra-time header sealed Chelsea's
spot in the League Cup final after an incident-packed 1-0 victory
over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Neither side could be separated after 90 pulsating minutes in
the semi-final second leg before Ivanovic leapt highest to meet
Willian's free-kick in the 94th minute to wrap up a 2-1 aggregate
win and a trip to Wembley in March.

However, the match was noteworthy for a series of flashpoints
involving Diego Costa, including a stamping incident in each half
on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel.

The Spain international was at the heart of more contention when
he was denied a penalty by referee Michael Oliver after going to
ground under a challenge from Skrtel just after the 20 minute
mark.

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also made two brilliant
one-on-one saves from Alberto Moreno and Philippe Coutinho in the
first half that ultimately proved crucial.

Victory over Liverpool represents an ideal response for Chelsea
after Saturday's 4-2 FA Cup defeat to League One side Bradford City
that left manager Jose Mourinho fuming.

The Portuguese - who was involved in a touchline exchange with
Brendan Rodgers - now has his sights set on a third League Cup
title, the first of which came against Liverpool in 2005 and was
his first trophy in English football during his first stint at the
club.

Chelsea had shouts for a penalty waved away in an end-to-end
opening when Willian's low shot struck the arm of the sliding Lucas
Leiva.

Can and Costa were then involved a brief altercation after the
latter was lucky to escape punishment for seemingly stamping on the
Liverpool midfielder's shin.

Costa was in the spotlight again in the 22nd minute as he went
to ground when Skrtel looked to have stood on his foot, but referee
Oliver was uninterested.

At the other end, Steven Gerrard's superb pass picked out the
run of Moreno on the left of the area, with the full-back's
subsequent shot well parried by Courtois, before the Belgium
international saved Coutinho's drive with his foot after the
Brazilian waltzed through the Chelsea defence.

Chelsea were dealt a blow when Cesc Fabregas had to be replaced
following an accidental collision with team-mate John Terry shortly
after the restart.

Tempers then threatened to boil over when Costa appeared to
tread on Skrtel, leading to a coming together between the two
players

Eden Hazard, scorer of Chelsea's goal in the first leg, gave a
timely reminder of his brilliance with a mazy run that led to him
fizzing a shot just wide from 20 yards, before Simon Mignolet made
a terrific block with his feet to keep out Costa's deflected
half-volley.

Liverpool were then fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men in the
67th minute when Jordan Henderson avoided a second yellow card for
a deliberate hand ball, before Chelsea's Filipe Luis hobbled off
after taking a knock.

The breakthrough finally came four minutes into extra time, as
Willian's teasing free-kick was headed home emphatically by
Ivanovic.

Henderson could have forced penalties when he put a free header
wide from 10 yards, but ultimately Chelsea safely saw out extra
time to reach their first final since Mourinho's return in June
2013.